The application of biosurfactants for scouring wool

Abstract

The first investigation of the use of biosurfactants for the scouring of raw wool is reported. A saponin, and a recently developed surface active oat extract, were evaluated at the laboratory scale using a first‐to‐be‐reported benchtop scouring system with simulated flowback. The levels of contaminants remaining on the wool after bioscouring, along with the wool colour, were compared with those of wool that had been laboratory‐scoured with a surfactant used in the commercial scouring of raw wool, namely a synthetic nine molar poly(oxyethylene)nonylphenyl (NPEO). Both biosurfactants can be extracted from land‐based renewable crops. The saponin proved to be effective, producing low levels of residual contaminants on the wool, and colours that were not statistically different to those of wool scoured with NPEO. The oat extract was considerably less effective than the saponin, both in terms of colour and residual contaminant level. This study demonstrated the significant potential of biosurfactants in the scouring of the global greasy wool clip, which now comprises two billion kg per annum.